Five things you need to know about marijuana legalizationÕs … · Five things you need to know...

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Right now, Alabama legislators are being asked to consider bills that legalize marijuana for medical use and for personal use. Businesses need to understand the unexpected consequences of marijuana legalization. Currently, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska have legalized marijuana for medical purposes and personal use (recreational marijuana). In all four states, proponents of legalization of marijuana have introduced a Medical marijuana bill first and once it was passed they moved on to secure passage of legalized personal (recreational) use of marijuana. Marijuana is big business to the growers. In Ohio, the pro-legalization of marijuana groups spent over $36 million dollars in advertising campaigns to convince voters to vote to legalize marijuana. The vote failed 64% to 36%. Five things you need to know about marijuana legalization’s impact on business Workforce development Businesses seeking to locate in the State of Alabama will see that the legalization of marijuana significantly lowers the amount of workers available to fill job openings with newly relocating companies. Existing business will leave the state Businesses growing within the state will be unable to fill new positions within the company as the workforce will have to be drug free to satisfy the company’s zero tolerance policy. Increased costs to existing businesses Zero tolerance policies will continue to be a must but because blood testing is the only method to be able to determine if marijuana is actively affecting a worker, the costs to manage the zero tolerance policy will be very high. Safety in the work environment Employees wanting a safe working environment will be subject to employees using personal use marijuana and coming to work under the influence before the impairment is found on a drug test. Employees demanding to work with prescriptions for medical marijuana will increase the safety risk to other workers. Quick facts provided by Dr. Kevin Sabet, SAM Marijuana users have a 78% increase in absenteeism over non-users. 85% more injuries occur with marijuana users than non-users. 65% more disciplinary problems occur with marijuana users than non-users.

Transcript of Five things you need to know about marijuana legalizationÕs … · Five things you need to know...

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Right now,

Alabama legislators are being asked to consider bills that legalize marijuana for medical use and for personal use. Businesses need to understand the unexpected consequences of marijuana legalization.

Currently, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska have legalized marijuana for medical purposes and personal use (recreational marijuana).

In all four states, proponents of legalization of marijuana have introduced a Medical marijuana bill first and once it was passed they moved on to secure passage of legalized personal (recreational) use of marijuana.

Marijuana is big business to the growers. In Ohio, the pro-legalization of marijuana groups spent over $36 million dollars in advertising campaigns to convince voters to vote to legalize marijuana. The vote failed 64% to 36%.

Five things you need to know about marijuana legalization’s impact on business

Workforce developmentBusinesses seeking to locate in the State of Alabama will see that the legalization of marijuana significantly lowers the amount of workers available to fill job openings with newly relocating companies.

Existing business will leave the stateBusinesses growing within the state will be unable to fill new positions within the company as the workforce will have to be drug free to satisfy the company’s zero tolerance policy.

Increased costs to existing businessesZero tolerance policies will continue to be a must but because blood testing is the only method to be able to determine if marijuana is actively affecting a worker, the costs to manage the zero tolerance policy will be very high.

Safety in the work environmentEmployees wanting a safe working environment will be subject to employees using personal use marijuana and coming to work under the influence before the impairment is found on a drug test. Employees demanding to work with prescriptions for medical marijuana will increase the safety risk to other workers.

Quick facts provided by Dr. Kevin Sabet, SAM

Marijuana users have a 78% increase in absenteeism over non-users.

85% more injuries occur with marijuana users than non-users.

65% more disciplinary problems occur with marijuana users than non-users.